El Volcan Mombacho

I've been back in Nicaragua after a quick break for a few weeks now and am starting to get back into a routine again.  I can't believe I have less than 6 weeks here!

First grade has brought forth some challenges that I really wasn't expecting, including but not limited to:

• My patience (or lack thereof it seems!)
• A difference in intelligence/understanding
• New discipline methods/reasons for discipline
• Communication with my cooperating teacher

First grade is definitely putting teaching in a new perspective for me.  I think my mind is made up about what grade levels I would prefer to teach, but I don't want to give up on teaching the young ones just yet.  I start teaching full-time tomorrow, so we'll see if my mind changes or not!

A few exciting things have happened over the last few weeks, including a booked trip for Semana Santa (Spring break)!  Me and a few friends are traveling by bus to Costa Rica and Panama.  I'm really looking forward to visiting these countries and snorkeling, zip lining through the rain forest, visiting chocolate farms, laying by the beach, and seeing Panama City!  

On Saturday, a few of us took a trip to Granada to trek up el Volcan Mombacho.  Boy, was this quite the trek!  Although I can't tell you the difficulty level of this volcano compared to other volcanoes, I do know now that it is not normal for people to hike all the way up it like we did!  At the bottom of the volcano, we were given the option to hike up it on foot or take a large 4-wheel drive vehicle.  Feeling a little adventurous (and cheap), we opted to hike up the volcano.  About 20 minutes into the hike, we began to realize why no one hikes, and about halfway up we wondered if we were as crazy as all of the construction workers we passed thought we were.  Yes, it was extremely steep (sometimes walking on all fours seemed just a good of an option as walking on just two feet), but the sense of accomplishment once we reached the top was amazing.  The view was nice, yes, but saying that I hiked, on foot, all the way up the great el volcan Mombacho made it all worth it.  Sighting monkeys and snakes along the way was cool, too.

That night, I slept the best I ever have; going to bed at 7 and waking up at 7.  A solid 12 hours that hasn't happened in years!  I can now check "hiking up a volcano" off of my bucket list!  Now time to zip line over a rain forest!

Distant view of el volcan Mombacho

View of the islets and Lake Nicaragua from the top of Mombacho

Why Is College Only 4 Years Long?

Having this week off was wonderful but also a little harmful to my mentality.  I try not to sugarcoat my situation too much, but I cannot say that I love living in Nicaragua.  I am trying my best to stay positive about living here, but honestly, it's not the most fabulous place I have ever visited.  It has lowered my expectations, however, which should make it easier to find my own place once I'm back in the states!  Even though the country has a few shortcomings, I truly do love the school and the people/students I have met here.  Just 7 1/2 weeks left!

Seeing family, friends, and my boyfriend was more than wonderful though.  I am just so lucky to be blessed with such wonderful friends and family and so lucky to have a boyfriend willing to fly home just for 5 days to see me. Keeping this in mind will surely make it easier over the next couple of months!

Today was my first day in first grade!  I was a little nervous to work with the little ones, but they are already growing on me.  It's hard to since they are so adorable!  I miss my 5th graders dearly and got a few big hugs today when they found me and realized I was back.  Some even tried coming into the classroom!  Disruptive, but so cute.  A few observations I noticed from day 1 in first grade:

• Parents. Are. Rediculous.  Today is spirit week, which means the kids can dress up (similar to homecoming week in the states).  Some students had faces painted like tigers or costumes and would come in late, parading in while their parents were taking videos and pictures while my cooperating teacher was teaching!  Couldn't believe this. 
• First graders trust people much faster than 5th graders.
• The classroom is MUCH hotter than the 5th grade classroom.
• The students fight about who's pencil is who's instead of cyber bullying, name-calling, and racial slurs
• I think there will be more to come, but since I still feel like I'm in "vacation mode" and I've only been in the classroom for one day I don't have very many observations yet.

Please put in some prayers for me as I begin the dreaded job search!  Also, happy St. Patty's day on Thursday!

Last Day for Placement #1

Today is my last day with my 5th graders.  I am so very sad to say goodbye to them, even though I know I will still be able to see them around school every once in awhile when I'm with the 1st graders!  It's so cute watching them whisper and plan the party for this afternoon which I "have no clue about."  Some of them have been acting really sad today while others are the same as every other day, which is good.  It's weird knowing that for some of these kids, I really did have an impact on them even though I was only here for two short months.  This impact might only last a week, a  month, a year, but I'm just glad that for some of them I made a little bit of a difference.  If anything, I know I have helped my cooperating teacher through some challenging times as she has had to deal with a few strokes of bad luck.

I wish I could just write all of the wonderful moments that happened with the 5th graders, but there are far too many.  There are a few in particular that I would like to share with you:

• One student wrote me an email after my first day of teaching and said I did a great job and that he wants me to continue to teach the class (wish granted for awhile!)
• One girl came up to me and asked if they were all coming with to 1st grade too
• One child tried very hard to hook me up with her older brother
• After informing the class that I had a boyfriend, they asked me "Are you getting married tomorrow?  At Disney World?"
• The countless hugs and smiles
• Having students still acting out their human body scripts they performed over two weeks ago
• FINALLY cracking the one child I thought was impossible to crack and really getting to know him

Overall, my experience with 5th grade and my cooperating teacher, along with the school and the other faculty has been so amazing.  I am glad that I will be teaching here for my 2nd placement as well.  Wish me luck with the little ones in two weeks! 

For now, I will be traveling back to the frozen tundra (Iowa) for a week of (first) scrambling together things needed to apply for a job that is only available until March 7th and then relaxing all week long with friends, family, and my wonderful boyfriend!